blame you for that."

After the meal Dave spent a pleasant evening with Laura and Jessie. The
three young folks went out on the porch and there, a little later, Ben
Basswood joined them. All talked about the trip to Yellowstone Park, and
about the Landslide Mine.

"I'd like to go after that mine myself," said Ben. "But I know I can't
do it, for I promised mother and my Aunt Kate that I'd stay with them
all through the trip."

"Then you'll have to stay with Laura and Jessie, too," returned Dave.
"I'll leave them in your care while I am away."

"Oh, Dave, as if Uncle Dunston wasn't going along!" cried his sister.

"Well, you can't have too many protectors, in such a wild portion of our
country," and Dave laughed, for he knew as well as did all of them that
the trip through Yellowstone Park is a perfectly safe one.

By and by Ben walked around the garden with Laura, while Dave took
Jessie. It was moonlight and perhaps some sentimental things were said.
Anyway, when Dave and Jessie came back he held her arm and both looked
very contented. Then Ben had to go, and Dave walked down to the gateway
with him and spoke about Nat Poole.

"Well, if he reforms he's a good one," was all Ben said. He and Nat had
been on the outs for a long while.

"He'll do it," answered Dave. "At least, I hope so."

CHAPTER XI

OVERHEARD IN THE SUMMER-HOUSE

"Dave, what do you think! I saw Link Merwell this morning!"

It was Laura who spoke, as she burst into her brother's room, where the
youth was looking over the things he expected to take with him on his
trip West.

"You saw Link Merwell!" cried Dave, dropping some collars he held in his
hand. "Where?"

"Down on Main Street, near the post-office."

"Did he speak to you?"

"Oh, no, the minute he noticed that I saw him he hurried out of sight
around the corner. I followed to the corner, but when I got there he had
gone."

"Was Job Haskers with him?"

"I didn't see him."

"Humph! This is interesting, to say the least," mused Dave. He thought
of what Nat Poole had told him, and of what Merwell and Haskers had
attempted at the Morr homestead. "I'll have to look into this," he
added, aloud.

"Oh, Dave, do you think he'll try to do something more round here--or at
the jewelry works?"

"I'll warn Mr. Wadsworth, Laura, and he can notify the police. But it's
queer Merwell should show himself, knowing there is a warrant out for
his arrest. Weren't you mistaken?"

"I don